Ronaldo Says Last Chances In World Cup Are Finished, But Decision On Portugal Is Not
By: Abudu Olalekan
Cristiano Ronaldo’s final World Cup ended the way nobody wanted. A Spanish dagger in the dying moments, courtesy of Mikel Merino’s late winner, sealed Portugal’s 1-0 round-of-16 exit. And honestly? You could feel the weight of it in his voice.
Speaking to reporters in the mixed zone on Monday, the Portuguese forward admitted Spain got “a bit of luck” with that goal — but stopped short of slamming the door on his international career.
“I’m sad to be leaving the World Cup like this,” he said. “I gave it my all. I did my best, and I’m leaving with a clear conscience. It was my last World Cup, yes, but I’ll now have time to reflect and be with my family. I won’t be making any rash decisions.”
Ronaldo is 41 now. And while he’s made it clear this World Cup was his last, the bigger question — whether he’s played his final game for Portugal — is still up in the air. He’s not rushing it.
“I don’t make decisions in the heat of the moment,” he said.
Fair. The man has given Portugal two decades of service. He helped them win the 2016 European Championship, the 2019 Nations League, and the 2025 Nations League. That’s a legacy most players can only dream of.
“I’ve won three titles for Portugal; before Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal hadn’t won a single title,” he said.
He even compared the 2016 Euro win to a World Cup. “The biggest title the national team has ever won was in 2016, the European Championship, which, to be honest, is just as significant to me as a World Cup,” Ronaldo said.
The loss also marked the end of Roberto Martinez’s stint as Portugal manager. And Ronaldo? He had nothing but good things to say about the Spaniard.
“I loved working with him,” he said. “A great manager, a great human being, and what he’s done for Portugal is to be commended. I want to thank him and wish him every happiness.”
Then he got reflective. “It’s always sad to be knocked out of a major tournament. It’s a World Cup. The team was really coming into its own. We played well, in my view. It could have gone either way, but that’s football. We have to pick ourselves up and carry on.
“It’s frustrating to go out like this, but we can hold our heads high,” added the Al-Nassr forward.
No drama. No grand exit speech. Just a man processing the end of an era — quietly, on his own terms.
Olalekan A. Abudu is a seasoned and dedicated News Journalist at REPORTERS ROOM, with over eight years of experience. He specializes in politics, climate change, health, and education, while also covering security, economic, and judicial issues. Committed to accuracy and balanced reporting, Olalekan exemplifies the principles of public-interest journalism.
